'Never-ending' cruise grinds to devastating end, stranding over 200 passengers abroad

A dream cruise around the world has come to an abrupt halt after two years at sea, reportedly leaving passengers scrambling to find somewhere to stay in Cambodia.The Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential cruise ship that promised passengers the chance to make the ocean their permanent home, suspended its voyage Tuesday after its operator said soaring fuel costs had made it too expensive to continue.CRUISE VACATION COMES TO CRASHING HALT AS SHIP SLAMS INTO 2 CARGO VESSELSThe ship was carrying 203 passengers, most of them Americans, and 156 crew members when it arrived in the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville, according to The Associated Press.Passengers said they were given just seven hours' notice to leave the vessel Tuesday and had to make their own arrangements, despite the company's claims that it was helping residents find temporary accommodations.In a statement, Villa Vie Residences, which is headquartered in Florida, announced that it had been "unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses."The residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey arrived in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, carrying 203 passengers and 156 crew members.  (AFP via Getty Images)The company said monthly fuel expenses per cabin had climbed from roughly $1,800 to as much as $8,000 in parts of Asia.ANGRY CRUISE PASSENGERS SAY FRUSTRATING ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED BEFORE BOOKING"Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution," the company said, according to the AP."Our focus now is on supporting residents, crew, and employees."The company added, "The company is working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements."The Villa Vie Odyssey, seen above, suspended its around-the-world voyage after its operator said soaring fuel costs had made continued operations financially unsustainable.

(AFP via Getty Images)The ship first set sail from Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024, on what was supposed to be a 3 1/2-year jour...